5i8 FARTHEST NORTH 



among the lanes and hummocks. It was so wonderfully 

 calm and still. Not a sound to be heard but the drip, 

 drip of water from a block of ice, and the dull sound of 

 a snow-slip from some hummock in the distance. The 

 sun is low down in the nortli, and overhead is the pale 

 blue dome of heaven, with gold - edged clouds. The 

 profound peace of the Arctic solitudes. My thoughts 

 fly free and far. If one could only give utterance to all 

 that stirs one's soul on such an evening as this ! What 

 an incomprehensible power one's surroundings have over 

 one ! 



" Why is it that at times I complain of the loneliness } 

 With Nature around one, with one's books and studies, 

 one can never be cjuite alone. 



"Thursday, August i6th. Yesterday evening, as I 

 was lying in my berth reading, and all except the watch 

 had turned in, I heard the report of a gun on deck 

 over my head. Thinking it was a bear, I hurriedly 

 put on my sea -boots and sprang on deck. There I 

 saw Johansen bareheaded, rifle in hand. 'Was it you 

 that fired the shot?' 'Yes. I shot at the big hummock 

 yonder — I thought something was stirring there, and 

 I wanted to see what it was, but it seems to have been 

 nothing.' I w^ent to the railings and looked out. ' I 

 fancied it was a bear that w'as after our meat — but it was 

 nothing.' As we stood there one of the dogs came jog- 

 ging along from the big hummock. 'There, you see 

 what you have shot at,' I said, laughing. ' I'm bothered 



